Simone Elizabeth Saunders

It Matters

Alberta University of Arts
Hand-tufted and punch needled textile
81.5 x 58.5 x 2 cm

It Matters engages upon a search for belonging, accompanied by an influence of current ideologies and a connection to a Black history. The COVID-19 pandemic has eradicated social normativity, further isolating marginalized communities and resulting in amplified racial biases toward Black and Brown people. This hand-tufted portrait of a Black civilian in a western society is rendered in a colourful patchwork, focusing on the quality and importance of Black life (matters). Connected to the global diaspora of a Black community, it is created from a craft that is rigorous and tactile. Viewers are encouraged to contemplate identity and to realize the foundational concept of aiding in racial emancipation.